Virgin’s flying start

There's no way to avoid the mad rush to the airport and delayed
flights but it's now possible to avoid the scrum at check-in.

Guests at Virgin Australia's new
Sydney Airport lounge can bypass the terminal entirely by arriving
at a kerbside entrance at the western end of Terminal 2 and
completing check-in and security screening in the lounge. The
refurbished split-level lounge has doubled in size to cater for up
to 500 passengers, many of whom will order coffee at three barista
stations and refuel with all-day buffets. Design features include
illuminated bars, curved-glass privacy screens and a ceiling
pattern of leaves.

The Sydney upgrade is part of a flurry of lounge activity at
Virgin Australia. It opened its first lounge at Cairns Airport in
November, following the introduction of business class on flights
to the city. The lounge at Melbourne Airport has also doubled in
size to seat about 500 guests. The space has similar design
elements to the flagship Sydney lounge and features a "premium
exit" with its own security screening lane to fast-track to
departure gates.

Qantas, meanwhile, has opened a new lounge in
Tamworth, upgraded its Perth lounge and is working on a new Broome
lounge.